Cleansing a media file from WordPress

  • Resolved ggreybeard

    (@ggreybeard)


    1 month ago

    Hi,

    I was requested to delete a PDF file located in the Media Library, as it contained personal information. The link to the file was for our members visibility only, not for viewing by the general public – but it seems Google registered it and made it searchable.

    1. Most importantly, how do I fully cleanse a file from WordPress, when it has already been erased from the Media Library?
    2. Is there some action which I should have taken previously to make the file (and others like it) invisible to search engines?

    Thanks.

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  • threadi

    (@threadi)

    If you remove the file from the media library, it will also be deleted from the file system. The exception to this, however, is if any plugin you use scratches into it.

    If you have a backup plugin, the file will still exist in it, which you should also be aware of when restoring the backup (which we hope is not the case).

    If you have a plugin that optimizes the management of media files, it could also store copies of the file somewhere.

    Just to be on the safe side, I would recommend that you check again via FTP to see if you can find any traces of the file anywhere in the file system. You should be able to find it under its file name – possibly even just with the name without the file extension.

    To exclude media files from indexing, you can instruct the bots to do so via robots.txt. The following line should be added there:

    Disallow: /wp-content/uploads/

    However, this also excludes images that may be useful for the findability of your website. This would create a disadvantage for your website.

    The best way to make potentially problematic files no longer findable is not to put them online in the first place.

    Thread Starter ggreybeard

    (@ggreybeard)

    Thank you @threadi.

    I just deleted my backup plugin (All-in-One WP Migration) but it made no difference. The file is still in there somewhere (assuming the change would propagate immediately). ??

    threadi

    (@threadi)

    How do you know it’s still there? And what information are you given about it? Do you see a path / URL?

    Thread Starter ggreybeard

    (@ggreybeard)

    Hi Threadie,

    To answer your question, I received a link from the person who is is concerned about his personal information. The link remained active, even after deleting the same file in WordPress.

    I spent a lot of time worrying about this yesterday. When my brain cleared I realised where I think the duplicate file is.

    I am now fairly certain that the file is not located in WordPress but is located in a legacy website on the same ISP. The website which predated the migration to WordPress. A decision had been made to retain the legacy site for a period. It should have been deleted later but wasn’t. ??

    I very much appreciate your input, which helped me to realise that I had to look outside WordPress.

    [Once I have confirmed the above, I will mark this thread as resolved.]

    Thread Starter ggreybeard

    (@ggreybeard)

    RESOLVED.

    This turned out to be not an issue with the WordPress site. It was due to the retention of a legacy site which is now gone and the problem no longer exists.

    • This reply was modified 1 month ago by ggreybeard.
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